New York Giants

Player News - Giants

The New York Daily News reports the Giants "aren't afraid" to let franchise player Jason Pierre-Paul play under his one-year tender.

However, they will "continue to try and sign" JPP to a long-term deal. The sides have until July 15 to reach an agreement. As a non-exclusive franchise player, JPP can receive offers from teams until April 24. At that point, the Giants could match any offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation. The latter scenario hasn't played out since 1998, which makes it very unlikely the Giants would end up losing Pierre-Paul. To account for JPP's enormous cap hit, the G-Men could look to cut players like Jon Beason.

JPP's one-year tender is for $14.8 million. The sides have been talking for the better part of a month, but aren't believed to be particularly close to a long-term deal. They have until July 15 to reach an accord. Pierre-Paul has been on a career roller coaster since taking the league by storm in 2011, but his 12.5 sacks last season were his most in three years. The Giants may prefer a one-year deal to a multi-year pact considering JPP's inconsistency and past injury issues.

"You're going to do what is best for you and you try to work with the team and do what is best for the team," Beason said. Beason is set to count $7.37 million against the cap this season after yet another injury-marred year. The Giants will need to make a decision on Beason before he's due a $1 million bonus on March 14. GM Jerry Reese will be in the market for linebackers this spring.

ESPN's Dan Graziano believes the Giants could let Eli Manning play out his contract year.

An extension could lower Eli's $17 million salary, but the Giants have $25M in cap room and don't feel the need. Manning is coming off a bounce-back year after leading the NFL in turnovers in 2013. He's expected to command $20 million annually on a long-term deal. The Giants could be better off waiting until Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers get their new contracts to extend Manning.

The Giants were considering Harris for a starting role before a shoulder injury ended his season prior to Week 1. That was also before Odell Beckham Jr. blew up and became one of the NFL's best receivers. If Victor Cruz (torn patellar tendon) returns to his old form, New York is going to have a very deep receiving corps.

Despite some run-ins with coach Tom Coughlin, Rueben Randle remains a part of the Giants' plans.

Randle was targeted 127 times in 2014, second-most on the team. But he produced just 71 catches for 938 yards and three touchdowns -- and also got benched twice for showing up late to meetings. Still, the Giants aren't going to give up on a 23-year-old talent who can really stretch the field. Randle won't get as many looks if Victor Cruz (knee) returns healthy to pair with Odell Beckham in 2015, but Randle will still be a factor as the No. 3 man.

Tom Coughlin will sign a one-year extension with the Giants, keeping him under contract through 2016.

The Giants have a long-standing policy of not letting their head coach go into a season as a "lame duck." So Coughlin will get another year tacked on to his deal, the exact same move the organization executed with him last year. Regardless, Coughlin needs to get the Giants back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011 if he wants any kind of real job security.

A source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Giants will use the franchise tag on free agent DE Jason Pierre-Paul if no long-term deal is reached by the March 2 deadline.

Multiple reports have stated the two sides are not particularly close on a contract, likely because Pierre-Paul's play has been uneven over the last three years under the weight of injuries. So a one-year franchise tender worth roughly $14.7M makes sense. The Giants do not want to let a 26-year-old, homegrown and elite (when healthy) pass-rusher walk out on them. JPP is going to play for the Giants in 2015 one way or another.

New York will probably extend Eli Manning in the near future to lessen his cap burden, but at $6.896 million, the Giants feel they are getting good value for Amukamara. The hesitation to lock up Amukamara long-term may stem from his season-ending biceps injury. He'll be a free agent after the 2015 season if a deal isn't reached.

Richburg was a 15-game starter at left guard as a rookie, grading out negatively in both run blocking and pass protection. The Giants are hoping he'll be more effective at his more natural center position. Richburg should only need to hold off ex-CFLer Brett Jones for the starting job.

Giants GM Jerry Reese declined to say whether MLB Jon Beason will be back in 2015.

"Jon is under contract. We will see where that goes," were Reese's comments. Beason has a $6.7 million cap hit, with $900K of his $3.6M salary guaranteed. He's a candidate for a pay cut after appearing in four games last year due to injuries. The Giants would save $4.3 million by releasing Beason, but leave $2.4M in dead money.

Giants GM Jerry Reese said S Cooper Taylor and S Nat Berhe will be given a shot to compete.

"They're gonna get a chance to compete," Reese said. "Cooper obviously needs to stay healthy, but I think both those guys will get a chance to compete for that position." Both recent fifth-round picks, Taylor and Berhe are the only safeties currently on the Giants' roster. Taylor, a 2013 pick, has only played ten games while dealing with hamstring, shoulder and foot injuries. Berhe only logged 32 snaps as a rookie. The Giants will be looking for better options.

Giants GM Jerry Reese indicated at the Combine that Victor Cruz won't be counted on for the same impact he made before his 2014 patellar tendon tear.

Patellar tendon tears are one of the worst kinds of knee injuries, far more significant than a torn ACL. Per Reese, Cruz "looks good" so far in his rehab, but "you can't put all your eggs in that basket." Odell Beckham has already taken over as New York's No. 1 wideout. Cruz will return as a complementary piece, fighting Larry Donnell and Rueben Randle for targets.

Giants GM Jerry Reese said the team and free agent DE Jason Pierre-Paul "are talking."

Though they may be talking, a report on Friday suggested the two sides were nowhere close to a deal. If JPP is staying in New York, the franchise tag seems like the most likely option. Pierre-Paul is Rotoworld's No. 3 available edge defender.

NJ.com reporter Jordan Raanan cites this as evidence the G-Men are looking to give Pierre-Paul the franchise tag. The Giants haven't applied the franchise tag since 2012 when they used it on punter Steve Weatherford. Pierre-Paul is listed as Rotoworld's No. 3 edge defender in the 2015 free agent class.